Luggage with lid-stay system

ABSTRACT

A piece of luggage, suitcase, or other container with a lid-stay system, allowing the lid to stay open while a user accesses the contents in the piece of luggage, suitcase or other container in an interior thereof (main body and/or lid). The lid-stay system generally comprises at least one wing with a metal protrusion formed at a distal end thereof and at least one magnetic stopper element formed on the inside of the piece of luggage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to luggage, suitcases,containers, and the like, and, in particular, to a lid-stay system forholding a lid of the piece of luggage upright to allow a user to accessits contents.

In conventional luggage, a user opens a piece of luggage to reveal andaccess its contents by lifting and flipping the lid approximately 180degrees (or more) around a hinge to separate it from the luggage body.In an open state, the lid of the piece of luggage is supported by theground or by the hinge. This can cause stress on the hinge and also iscumbersome to close. Furthermore, to keep a lid in an open state withoutflipping the lid completely, a user would have to use one hand to holdthe lid, only leaving the other hand to access the contents of theluggage.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved piece of luggage thatallows a lid to stay open in a place without having the user manuallyhold the lid and also such that it can be easily closed by a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, various embodiments of aluggage system are disclosed. In various embodiments, not limited to anyparticular design, the present disclosure generally provides for aluggage system having a base (or luggage body) and a lid (or cover).Extending from the lid or cover is at least one, or preferably two, wingor holding element having a metal portion attached to a distal endthereof. The base body contains one, or preferably two, stopper elementwith magnets, which mate with the metal portions found on the wing orholding elements. Furthermore, the lid-stay system serves to keep thelid in an open state without having a user manually hold the lid.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or everyaspect of the present invention. Particular embodiments may include one,some, or none of the listed advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtainedby reference to the Detailed Description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying Drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the luggage with lid-stay system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luggage with lid-stay system shownwith the wing element detached from the stopper and magnet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wing element of the lid-stay system;and

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the stopper element of the lid-staysystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 & 2, luggage 101 is shown. Luggage 101 can be asuitcase, baggage, or any other container suitable for carrying personalitems. Luggage 101 can be a hard or soft case, and made of variety ofmaterials known in the art. Luggage 101 generally comprises a base orbody 105 and lid or cover 106. Luggage 101 further comprises a lid-staysystem comprising at least one wing element 102 and at least one stopperelement 103.

The lid-stay system generally allows a user to open the lid 106 of thepiece of luggage 101 and hold the lid 106 in an open position,preferably between 85 and 100 degrees from the base 105 of the piece ofluggage, allowing the user to access its contents without removing thelid completely. Closing lid 106 also becomes easier using this system.

Turning now to the details of the lid-stay system, the system comprisesat least one wing element 102, which extends substantiallyperpendicularly from lid 106. Substantially perpendicularly is intendedto cover a range between 85 and 100 degrees, and not necessarily 90degrees. The at least one wing element 102 generally comprises of arigid piece of material. Wing element 102 is connected to the lid viamain edge 107. At a distal end of main edge 107 is a protrusion 104,formed of metal or other magnetically conductive material, which isdesigned to magnetically mate with the stopper element 103.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, details of the lid stay element are shown.

Lid stay element 102 has a main edge 107, top edge 108 and bottom edge109. Main edge 107 is generally straight and is designed to attach tothe cover of the piece of luggage. Main edge 107 can optionally compriseholes 111 for stitching to the cover or lid of the piece of luggage.

Top edge 108 and bottom edge 109 are generally curved following similarlines. Top edge 108 and bottom edge 109 meet at a rounded section 110.Rounded section 110 comprises a metal piece or protrusion 104, whichmates with the magnet 112 found in the stopper element 103.

Stopper element 103 is provided on the inside of the storage area of thebase or body 105 of the piece of luggage 101 at an upper edge 113 of thebase or body 105. Stopper element 103 can be generally U-shaped, havinga rounded or curved bottom section and a straight-edge top portion.Stopper element 103 further comprises a recessed portion in which amagnet 112 is provided. The metal piece or protrusion 104 is similarlyrounded so that it can mate and be rotated within the recessed portionof stopper element 103. Stopper element 103 can generally be anycontainment that holds magnet 112 (or other connecting element) inplace. Stopper element 103 can be of varying shapes and sizes toaccommodate various-sized pieces of luggage or the like having differentconfigurations and weights.

Variations can be utilized without departing form the scope of theinvention. For example, other non-magnetic connectors could be used toattach the lid stay element to the luggage base, such as metal snaps,hook and loop fasteners (VELCRO®), release buckles, hooks, peg and hole,and latch fasteners. Furthermore, the placement of the magnet and metalprotrusion can be interchanged.

As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussedabove can be utilized without departing from the invention as defined bythe claims, the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments should betaken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of theinvention as defined by the claims. It will also be understood that theprovision of examples of the invention (as well as clauses phrased as“such as,” “e.g.”, “including” and the like) should not be interpretedas limiting the invention to the specific examples; rather, the examplesare intended to illustrate only some of many possible aspects.

1. A piece of luggage comprising: a base forming a storage area; a lidattached to said base; at least one wing extending from said base;wherein said wing holds said lid open so that a user can access saidstorage area of said base.
 2. The piece of luggage of claim 1, whereinsaid wing has a protrusion at a distal end thereof.
 3. The piece ofluggage of claim 2, wherein said base has at least one stopper elementon an inside of said storage area.
 4. The piece of luggage of claim 3,wherein said stopper element further comprises a recessed portion. 5.The piece of luggage of claim 4, wherein said recessed portion furthercomprises a magnet.
 6. The piece of luggage of claim 5, wherein saidprotrusion mates with said magnet.
 7. A piece of luggage comprising: abase forming a storage area; a lid attached to said base; and a lid-staysystem formed in said storage area; wherein said lid-stay systemcomprises a wing with a metal protrusion formed at a distal end thereof,a stopper element with a magnet; and wherein said metal protrusionmagnetically mates with said stopper element to allow the lid to stay inan open state.
 8. The piece of luggage of claim 7, wherein said openstate is one in which the lid is held between 85 degrees and 100 degreesrelative to said base.